Asymmetric hydrogenation of 1-phenylethenylboronic acid and esters for the synthesis of chiral organoboron compounds

The hydrogenation of ethanediol 1-phenylethenylboronic ester was carried out at −20 °C under a hydrogen atmosphere (9 atm) in the presence of [Rh(cod)2]BF4–(R)-BINAP (3 mol%). After alkaline hydrogen peroxide oxidation, the reaction gave 1-phenylethanol with 80% e.e.